Resilient mounting arrangement for the non-movable magnetic member of an electromagnetic switching apparatus

ABSTRACT

In an electromagnetic switching apparatus including a housing, stationary and movable electrical contacts disposed therein, a movable magnetic switching member disposed with the movable contacts on a carrier bridge, a non-movable magnetic nonswitching member on which the excitation coil and coil form of the apparatus are disposed, and elongated support rods each having resilient grommets disposed thereon for mounting the nonmovable magnetic member in the housing, the improvement comprising lateral mounting members extending outwardly from opposing sides of the non-movable member, having longitudinal apertures for receiving the rods and grommets and thereby resiliently mounting the non-movable member within the apparatus housing. In addition, the grommets may include planar shaped support portions for resiliently mounting the coil form, the resilient layer members or leaf springs may be provided for biasing the coil form towards the non-movable member and further resiliently mounting the latter. Removable mounting brackets for both the leaf springs and return springs for the movable magnetic member may also be provided.

United States Patent 1191 Fischer et a1.

1 1 Aug. 26, 1975 1 RESILIENT MOUNTING ARRANGEMENT FOR THE NON-MOVABLEMAGNETIC MEMBER OF AN ELECTROMAGNETIC SWITCHING APPARATUS [75]Inventors: Gert Fischer; Siegfried Seidel; Fritz Piillmann, all ofAmberg, Germany [73] Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, Munich,

Germany [221 Filed: Apr. 25, 1974 1211 Appl. No.: 464,198

Primary ExaminerHarold Broome Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Kenyon & KenyonReilly Carr & Chapin [57] ABSTRACT ln an electromagnetic switchingapparatus including a housing, stationary and movable electricalcontacts disposed therein, a movable magnetic switching member disposedwith the movable contacts on a carrier bridge, a non-movable magneticnon-switching member on which the excitation coil and coil form of theapparatus are disposed, and elongated support rods each having resilientgrommets disposed thereon for mounting the non-movable magnetic memberin the housing, the improvement comprising lateral mounting membersextending outwardly from opposing sides of the non-movable member,having longitudinal apertures for receiving the rods and grommets andthereby resiliently mounting the non-movable member within the apparatushousing. In addition, the grommets may include planar shaped supportportions for resiliently mounting the coil form, the resilient layermembers or leaf springs may be provided for biasing the coil formtowards the non-movable member and further resiliently mounting thelatter. Removable mounting brackets for both the leaf springs and returnsprings for the movable magnetic member may also be provided.

7 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PAIENTEU mszslsrs SHEET 1 OF 3 PATimenmezsmsSHEET 3 [IF 3 Fig.3

RESILIENT MOUNTING ARRANGEMENT FOR THE NON-MOVABLE MAGNETIC MEMBER OF ANELECTROMAGNETIC SWITCHING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Fieldof the Invention This invention relates generally to electromagneticswitching apparatus, and in particular to an improved resilient typemounting arrangement for the nonmovable magnetic member of such anapparatus.

2. Description of the Prior Art Resilient type mounting arrangements forthe non movable magnetic member of an electromagnetic switchingapparatus are generally known in the art. German Auslegeschrift No.1,259,439, for example, discloses an electromagnetic switching apparatusin which a pair of support rods, each having a length greater than thatof the non-movable magnetic member of the apparatus, are disposedthrough apertures provided therein for supporting the non-movablemagnetic member in the apparatus housing. Grommets fabricated fromrubber or another resilient material are disposed on the support rodsbetween the latter and the nonmovable member to provide a resilientmount for the magnetic member. The thickness of the support rods in suchan arrangement is limited, however, and the surface area thereofcontacting the grommets is small. Thus, the choice of the types ofresilient materials from which the grommets may be fabricated is limited by the surface area of the rods available for engagement with thegrommets with respect to the resiliency of the mount desired for thenon-movable magnetic member. It is desireable, however, that the resilient mount be so designed that the choice of resilient type materialswhich may be utilized to fabricate the grommets is greatly increased andthe resiliency of the mount desired for the non-movable member and theresiliency of the material used to fabricate the grommets can be bettercoordinated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the invention toprovide an improved resilient type mounting arrangement for thenon-movable magnetic member of an electromagnetic switching apparatuswhich overcomes the abovedescribed disadvantages of heretofore knownarrangements.

These and other objects are achieved in an electromagnetic switchingapparatus which includes a housing; stationary and movable electricalcontacts disposed therein; a movable magnetic switching member disposedwith the movable electrical contacts on a carrier bridge; a non-movablemagnetic non-switching member on which the excitation coil and coil formof the apparatus are disposed; and elongated support rods each havingresilient grommets disposed thereon for mounting the non-movablemagnetic member in the housing of the apparatus. The improvement of theinvention comprises the provision of lateral mounting members which arecoupled to and extend outwardly from opposing sides of the non-movablemagnetic member. These mounting members include elongated aperturesextending longitudinally therethrough for receiving said support rodsand grommets, and thereby resiliently mount the non-movable magneticmember in the apparatus housing.

In other embodiments of the invention, the grommets may include anoutwardly extending planar-shaped portion, disposed substantiallyparallel to the longitudinal axis thereof, for supporting the coil formin a resilient manner within the housing. A plurality of resilient layermembers may also be interposed between the coil form and the apparatushousing opposite the grommets for further resiliently mounting thenon-movable mag netic member. Instead of the layer members, spring meansmay be utilized to further resiliently mount the non-movable memberwithin the housing and bias the coil form towards the member. Removablemounting brackets, having threaded apertures for coupling thereto anauxiliary switching apparatus are utilized to mount both the springmeans and return springs for the movable magnetic member within thehousing.

These and other features of the invention, and the advantages thereof,will be described in detail in the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front view, partly insection, of an electromagnetic switching apparatus constructed accordingto the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view, partly in section, of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top cross-sectional view of the apparatus illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is an end view of a resilient grommet con structed according tothe invention;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal, cross-sectional view of the grommet of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the grommet shown in FIGS. 4 and 5;

FIG. 7 is a side view of a movable mounting bracket constructedaccording to the invention;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the bracket of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is an end view of the bracket shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawings, in particular toFIGS. l3, there is shown an electromagnetic switching apparatuscomprising a housing, generally designated 1, in which stationary andmovable electrical contacts, 2 and 2a, respectively, are disposed. Anarc quenching arrangement, generally designated 3, of known type isprovided for extinguishing current arcs produced during opening of theswitching apparatus. A movable magnetic switching member 4 is disposedwith movable contacts 2a and a contact bridge 5 on a movable carrierbridge 6. A non-movable magnetic non-switching member 7 is disposedtherebelow in housing I and supports a coil 8 and excitation coil 9therein. Elongated cylindrical support rods 11, each of which haveresilient grommets 12 disposed thereon, are disposed through a pair oflateral mounting members 10 which are integrally formed with thenon-movable magnetic member on opposing sides thereof. Members 10include longitudinal apertures for receiving rods 11 and grommets l2 andthereby providing a resilient mount for member 10 in housing 1. Each ofthe support rods 11 is coupled to a base plate 14 in housing 1 by meansofa fastening screw 15 and a pair of bearing blocks I3 coupled thereto.

As shown in FIGS. 46, each of grommets 12 include an annular flange 29and may be provided with an outwardly extending planar-shaped,rectangular portion 16 integrally formed therewith for supporting coilform 8 and coil 9 in a resilient manner within housing 1. Portion 16 isdisposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of grommet 12in a recess 17 provided in coil form 8 and serves as a seat for thelatter on member 10. Portion 16 also engages the top surface of lateralmounting member 10, the latter being received as shown in FIG. 1 in theslot formed by the portion between itself and the body of the grommet.This grommet construction greatly simplifies the switching apparatusconfiguration by reducing the number of parts which are required formounting the apparatus components within housing 1.

In order to further resiliently mount member in housing 1, and bias coil8 towards member 10 and portions 16, a plurality of layer members 30,fabricated from resilient material, are interposed between housing 1 andcoil form 8 opposite grommets l2 and portions 16. These layer membersmay be replaced, if desired, by spring means, illustrated as leafsprings 18, laterally displaced with respect to grommets 12 and joinedby means of a rivet connection 20 to a removable mounting means,illustrated as mounting brackets 19, which are slidably disposable inhousing 1. As shown in detail in FIGS. 7-9, bracket 19 is U-shaped andis provided with sheared-out lugs 21 which detent in a slot 22 inhousing 1 to secure bracket 19 therein, and a support portion 23disposed perpendicular to the surface of the bracket for the returnspring 24 of movable magnetic member 4. Threaded apertures 25 areprovided for receiving the fastening screws 26 of an auxiliary switchextension 27 (see FIG. 2), thereby assuring a secure attachment of theswitches even in a housing having a relatively thin wall. Each ofsprings 18 engages a hook type projection 28 formed on coil form 8 andis flexed into the position illustrated by the dotted lines in FIG. 1when the base plate of the apparatus is secured in place. Coil form 8 isthus pushed against portions 16 of the grommets 12. Brackets 19 alsosimplify the construction of the switching apparatus in that no separatemounting brackets are necessary for both the return springs 24 and leafsprings 18.

In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described withreference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof. It will, however,be evident, that various modifications and changes may be made thereuntowithout departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention asset forth in the appended claims. The specification and drawings are,accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than in arestrictive sense.

What is claimed is:

1. In an electromagnetic switching apparatus including a housing,stationary and movable electrical contacts disposed therein, a movablemagnetic member disposed with the movable electrical contacts on acarrier bridge, a U-shaped non-movable magnetic member on which theexcitation coil and coil form of the apparatus are disposed, andelongated support rods having resilient grommets disposed thereon formounting the non-movable magnetic member in the apparatus housing, theimprovement comprising,

mounting members, integrally formed with and extending laterally outwardfrom opposing sides of said non-movable magnetic member beyond the basethereof, said mounting members comprising part of said non-movablemagnetic member and including elongated apertures extendinglongitudinally therethrough in which said grommets are inserted forresiliently mounting said non-movable magnetic member in said housing.

2. In an electromagnetic switching apparatus including a housing,stationary and movable electrical contacts disposed therein, a movablemagnetic member disposed with the movable electrical contacts on acarrier bridge, a non-movable magnetic member on which the excitationcoil and coil form of the apparatus are disposed, and elongated supportrods having resilient grommets disposed thereon for mounting thenonmovable magnetic member in the apparatus housing, the improvementcomprising,

lateral mounting members, coupled to and extending outwardly fromopposing sides of said non-movable magnetic member, said membersincluding elongated apertures extending longitudinally therethrough forreceiving said support rods and grommets and thereby resilientlymounting said nonmovable magnetic member in said housing, and saidgrommets each including an outwardly extending portion joined theretoresiliently supporting said coil form within said housing.

3. The apparatus recited in claim 2, wherein said outwardly extendingportion is planar shaped and is disposed substantially parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the grommet to which it is joined.

4. The apparatus recited in claim 2, further compris ing a plurality ofresilient layer members interposed between said coil form and saidhousing opposite said grommets.

5. The apparatus recited in claim 2, further comprising spring meansdisposed within said housing for biasing said coil form towards saidnon-movable magnetic member.

6. The apparatus recited in claim 5, further comprising removablemounting means, slidably disposed within said housing, and coupled tosaid spring means, for mounting said spring means and return springs forsaid movable magnetic member within said housing.

7. The apparatus recited in claim 6, wherein said removable mountingmeans comprise mounting brackets having threaded apertures disposedtherein for receiving mounting screws for an auxiliary switchingapparatUS.

1. In an electromagnetic switching apparatus including a housing,stationary and movable electrical contacts disposed therein, a movablemagnetic member disposed with the movable electrical contacts on acarrier bridge, a U-shaped non-movable magnetic member on which theexcitation coil and coil form of the apparatus are disposed, andelongated support rods having resilient grommets disposed thereon formounting the non-movable magnetic member in the apparatus housing, theimprovement comprising, mounting members, integrally formed with andextending laterally outward from opposing sides of said non-movablemagnetic member beyond the base thereof, said mounting memberscomprising part of said non-movable magnetic member and includingelongated apertures extending longitudinally therethrough in which saidgrommets are inserted for resiliently mounting said non-movable magneticmember in said housing.
 2. In an electromagnetic switching apparatusincluding a housing, stationary and movable electrical contacts disposedtherein, a movable magnetic member disposed with the movable electricalcontacts on a carrier bridge, a non-movable magnetic member on which theexcitation coil and coil form of the apparatus are disposed, andelongated Support rods having resilient grommets disposed thereon formounting the non-movable magnetic member in the apparatus housing, theimprovement comprising, lateral mounting members, coupled to andextending outwardly from opposing sides of said non-movable magneticmember, said members including elongated apertures extendinglongitudinally therethrough for receiving said support rods and grommetsand thereby resiliently mounting said nonmovable magnetic member in saidhousing, and said grommets each including an outwardly extending portionjoined thereto resiliently supporting said coil form within saidhousing.
 3. The apparatus recited in claim 2, wherein said outwardlyextending portion is planar shaped and is disposed substantiallyparallel to the longitudinal axis of the grommet to which it is joined.4. The apparatus recited in claim 2, further comprising a plurality ofresilient layer members interposed between said coil form and saidhousing opposite said grommets.
 5. The apparatus recited in claim 2,further comprising spring means disposed within said housing for biasingsaid coil form towards said non-movable magnetic member.
 6. Theapparatus recited in claim 5, further comprising removable mountingmeans, slidably disposed within said housing, and coupled to said springmeans, for mounting said spring means and return springs for saidmovable magnetic member within said housing.
 7. The apparatus recited inclaim 6, wherein said removable mounting means comprise mountingbrackets having threaded apertures disposed therein for receivingmounting screws for an auxiliary switching apparatus.